2006-04-10

Duke Lacrosse Rape Case Update

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Wade Smith, an attorney for members of the Duke University lacrosse team, announced late Monday afternoon that no DNA samples taken from the 46 athletes matched any DNA on the alleged victim and that he hopes Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong will consider dropping the case.

The announcement came less than two hours after the State Bureau of Investigation delivered the results to prosecutors.

Three members of the lacrosse team have been accused of raping and beating an exotic dancer at a party on the night of March 13.

The accuser told Durham police that she thought she would be dancing at a small bachelor party, but instead danced for a large group of men who became aggressive during the performance. She told police that she and the other dancer left the party, but were convinced by some of the men there to return.

Later in the night, she said, she was separated from the other dancer and was gang-raped, beaten and sodomized for 30 minutes.